Michael D. Brown (D-DC-”Shadow” Senator)

Michael D. Brown (D-DC-Shadow Senate)

Michael D. Brown: District of Columbia, Shadow Senator***

Michael D. Brown Biography from dc.gov

Biography of Michael D. Brown

The Honorable Michael D. Brown is currently serving is first term as the Junior United States Senator for the District of Columbia. First elected in 2006, Senator Brown works to promote DC Statehood and full voting rights for the citizens of the District of Columbia. Prior to his election as senator, he was an elected member of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3E, representing Single Member District 3E-02. He serves as president of the Western Avenue Citizens Association and is a vestry member of St. David’s Episcopal Church.

Biography

Senator Michael D. Brown was elected in 2006 with 84% of the vote. He serves the people of the District of Columbia as an advocate for statehood and voting rights. He has traveled across America speaking on these issues and helped in the effort to pass the 2008 DC Voting Rights Act. In the 110th Congress this bill passed the House and came three votes short of cloture in the Senate. He maintains an office at the Wilson Building where he works with the DC Council on issues that affect the District at the federal level. President-elect Obama has said that “even without a vote (Senator Brown) has always been a strong advocate for the rights of DC residents.” His current term expires in 2013.

For the past 24 years he has been the President of Horizon Communications, a DC based consulting firm that provides services to Democratic candidates and public interest groups nationwide. He has worked on many Presidential Campaigns and was an Obama Super-Delegate at the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver. In addition, he helps train Democratic Candidates who run for public office and was a former Director at the Democratic National Committee here in Washington. He is also an elected Democratic Committeeman, former ANC Commissioner and President of the Western Avenue Citizens Association. Senator Brown is a graduate of the University of Maryland. He believes that the best way to enfranchise the citizen of Washington is through statehood.

NOTES

*** The District of Columbia elects a Member to assume the position of Representative in the United States House and 2 persons to assume the positions of Senator (a Class I and Class II Member.) These persons act as “Shadow” members of congress. They have no rights to vote or represent in either house. They act as a lobbying arm of the District of Columbia for the purpose of Statehood and other legal and financial benefit. In the event of Statehood they would in theory become the Member of the House and 2 Senator from the District of Columbia. Full and Equal Statehood would require amending Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. ***